Kevin Garnett on missed opportunities, on and off the court

At one point in the new Showtime documentary, Kevin Garnett unexpectedly jumps out of his seat during the interview to curse into an explosive microphone.

Sitting down has never been one of his strong points, whether on the basketball court or during typical sleepovers, like talking about himself in front of the camera.

The film, titled “Kevin Garnett: Anything Is Possible,” premiered on November 12. The film follows Garnett’s life story, from his growing up in South Carolina to when he became an adult. one of the most famously successful prep players in basketball history by winning the NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008.

This documentary is the latest in a trend of athletes trying to shape their own stories through their own productions. Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and Russell Westbrook have been involved in similar projects.

In Garnett’s documentary, for which he is an executive producer, there is one scene that stands out. Garnett and rapper Snoop Dogg were in a recording studio discussing athlete activism, and Garnett criticized NBA players for continuing in the knockout stages after going out to protest social injustice on Sunday. summer 2020.

“I really thought for a second how motivated the players were, if they could take a stand, all together and say, ‘No, we don’t play’, that they could have done it. continue. Capitol Hill and start a conversation, a real conversation, and start talking about police reform,” Garnett told Snoop Dogg.

Garnett added, “Just queuing really doesn’t really help.”

In a recent interview, Garnett discussed those comments about the player’s activism, his acting ambitions, and his relationship with former Celtics teammate Ray Allen.

You impersonate Doc Rivers, the former Celtics coach, in the documentary. We saw your acting skills in “Uncut Gems”. What are you interested in continuing your acting career?

I clearly feel that the character I play in “Uncut Gems” is who I am, and I don’t think I can mess with that, and I feel confident in that. I’m taking some chances, just nothing tells me. Some things on my desk are just things that I can’t relate to and that I just don’t feel right for me. But I am very profitable. I would love to make more movies if possible.

There’s an interesting scene with Snoop Dogg where you’re talking about NBA players and the post-George Floyd protests. You were essentially suggesting that the players lined up when protesting the police shootings and that they should have stopped the game until there was real reshuffle. Is that an accurate framework for how you feel?

Well, if I’m being frank, yes. I think what I was trying to insinuate, if not, is that I just think that if the players are really, really passionate about the George Floyd situation and they want to do more, I think. that way – or at least the way I think – you should really change the changing effect. If that means you all don’t play, then you shouldn’t. I think that must be an option.

I think the league has really taken advantage of the players and know that the majority of the players need to play and need the chance to play, and that’s not going to be an option.

It seems that in times of pandemic, the world associates with sport for fun, or to keep things calm. With that kind of leverage, you have to know how to actually use that leverage. I don’t think the players really have the solid leadership to be able to come up with a plan and put it together.

Have you been particularly political in your playing career? For example, are you willing to stop playing until there is a law that addresses a reform you are passionate about?

I was able to take the opportunity to walk on Capitol Hill and use my platform to raise my voice and say whatever I felt like. You have to remember, this is your livelihood. And as 400+ players, you don’t just speak for yourself. You are trying to speak to a group of players who think differently, across all accounts. This is how you eat. This is how you feed yourself, and people from all walks of life, economically, when it comes to the league.

I was probably in a position to take a stance and really wanted to start a conversation. But, again, I feel it’s important to have the right people, the right politicians, and the right partnerships to be able to come to the table with the right vision to talk about reform. way. That is all.

[Later, Garnett added a clarification.]

I want to make it clear that I really like the way the players stay together and whatever decision they make, they agree with it. I don’t want to go on the pitch like I’m going to meet future players or current players and they should have.

I really support the players, LeBron, Chris Paul and everything they do for the union and for the players.

Paul Pierce makes a lot of appearances in the documentary, as have several other Celtics teammates since 2008. One person who has barely been mentioned is Ray Allen. Have you softened your stance towards Ray yet? [Some of Allen’s teammates were angry after Allen, who was with the Celtics from 2007 to 2012, left for Miami in free agency after the Heat defeated the Celtics in the playoffs.]

I wish Ray all the best, I wish him and his family all the best, and whatever he’s doing, I’ll always support that. And that’s all I have to say.

Your teammates on that team said, “It’s KG who should want to talk to Ray.” Are you ready to reconcile with him?

It’s not a big deal for me. I think Ray is living his life. I’m living my life. That’s where I stand on it. I think if people wanted to do something, we could have done it now. So it’s pretty clear where we are, but I wish all the best for all of my teammates and everyone I’ve played with. Not just Ray, everyone.

Paul Pierce recently mentioned that you and him are in the process of possibly starting a podcast. Who will you have as your first guest?

Probably [former President Barack] Obama or Jamie Dimon [the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase]. Yes. You caught me off guard.

You can call Paul later and talk about it.

I was just going to say, didn’t I? “So Paul, since you put it out, who’s going to be the first guest, right?” Paul will be like some “Girls Gone Wild” type content.

Can you tell me a little bit about your relationship with Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, the new Minnesota Timberwolves ownership group?

I haven’t had any conversations with them yet. I have not spoken to A-Rod privately.

Are you interested in being part of a new group of owners, whether in the basketball operation or as a minority owner or in some way part of a franchise?

I think the opportunity has passed. I actually think I’ve heard whispers that the A-Rod is really taking the Timberwolves to Seattle. So we’ll see. I do not know.

Would you be sad if that happened? [The Timberwolves didn’t respond to a request for comment.]

No one wants to see the Wolves leave Minneapolis, but you know, that’s the business. I would never want the Timberwolves to leave Minneapolis and Minnesota. I think that team means a lot to that status.